Page 78 of Hits Different

“Incredible-new. Want to do it again soon, new”.

“I’d ask if you enjoyed it, but the ceiling needs redecorating, so it feels like a yes”.

I burst out laughing, and he rolls off the bed. He kisses me on the lips, then the cheek, then hunts around looking for his clothes. “What are you doing?” I ask.

“Getting back to my place before your boys get home”.

I open my mouth to protest, but he meets me with another kiss instead. God, he’s good at this. “It’s okay”, he assures me, “We’re not at sleepover stage yet. It’s fine. Genuinely”.

He slips out. I lie there, counting his footsteps lightly down the stairs. The soft click as the door opens and closes. Not bothering with clothes, I cross to the window.

He’s practically bouncing across the courtyard, and when I catch sight of my reflection through the glass, the grin on my face is so wide I barely recognise myself. This is more thanlike, I realise.

This might be love.

Chapter 32

Misplaced

Brandon

When I arrive at training, both Ivor and Gretchen are waiting for me. They’re deep in conversation and break off as I arrive.

“This doesn’t look good”, I say, by way of greeting.

“Brandon, why don’t you take a seat?” Ivor gestures to the bench, “We need to talk”.

“And now it doesn’tsoundgood”. I park it. “What’s going on?”

“You know scouts will be here in a couple of weeks. From some pretty big clubs”. My heart skips a beat. “Which could be big news for you”.

I nod, waiting for the ‘but’. “We’ve run through your test results. Your performance is good, by any measurable standard. This”, Ivor gestures to a grid, “Is where you were before the accident. Here’s where you are now. And this line, is what you’re aiming for”.

The world feels like it’s shifting beneath me. “I don’t understand”.

“You’re playing well enough for a college team. But the chances of you improving to the level where soccer becomes a career look slim. Very slim”.

“But that’s why I’m here. To get better”.

“That’s the thing. You are better. None of your results indicate any reason why your game isn’t where it should be. No physical reasons, anyway”, Gretchen trails off.

“Mental?” I glare between the two of them. “That doesn’t make any sense. Soccer is all I’ve ever wanted. If I lose it, I’ve lost everything. How do I get it back?”

Ivor and Gretchen exchange a glance.

“We don’t know”.

* * * *

I finish training, but still can’t concentrate so I walk into town to clear my head. Which apparently, I should have been doing all along.Mental. The problem in my game isn’t mental. I want to turn pro more than anything. How could it be mental?

My phone rings, and my stomach contracts involuntarily when I see the name.

Winston Deville is my father’s Chief of Staff. I once heard him described by a political commentator as anarchitect of power. I also heard him described by my mother as a power-drunk munchkin. I’ve always thought he lands between the two. “You haven’t been responding to my office’s emails”.

“Don’t you mean my father’s office?” Nothing riles Winston up more than reminding him that I’m family, and he’s on the payroll. “Maybe something’s wrong with his phone. He hasn’t been replying to my texts”.

“I’ll havetechnical supportlook into it”. I can practically hear him grinding his teeth. “But since I’ve managed to get hold of you, why don’t we just talk now?”

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